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Voters say yes to bond issues
For a while, county officials' faces were tense as the early results for a bond issue to build a new jail appeared to be failing.
Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Southeast Kansas Correctional Center Jail Administrator Bobby Reed, and Bourbon County Commission Chair Barb Albright gathered to watch the returns to see if the work they've done to promote a $6.8 million bond issue to pay for a new jail would pay off.
It did -- barely. The unofficial results show the issue passed by a 12-vote margin -- 1,012 to 1,000.
At one point, the issue was failing to pass by as many as 25 votes, then jumped to a 947-907 lead. Then, with one of the 20 precincts remaining to come in, the vote was 979 yes and 962 no.
Martin described the evening as "interesting," but said he was pleased.
"I'm very happy with all the people that came out and supported the jail project," he said. "I'm happy and pleased that people actually came out and voted. People believed in the sheriff's office and the jail facility and the commissioners that this is a need for the community and it was victorious."
Martin has been working on the jail project since being handed the responsibility by former Sheriff Ron Gray in 2011. But he said the county has had conversations about a new jail since 2006.
Reed said his nerves were a little "racked" while watching the results.
"I didn't figure it would be as close it was with everything that Bill and I had done with informing people," Reed said.
He and Martin spoke to several groups and clubs, led jail tours and public forums during the past year.
"I really didn't figure it would be as close as it was," Reed said. "I think a lot of the no's -- why it was so close -- was people chose not to be informed. I feel that Bill and I did a very good job of trying to inform everybody of all the pro's and con's involved and I think a lot of them was just misinformed and voted the way they did off of what they'd heard instead of the truth. I'm glad there were enough that heard and stood by Bill and I and what we tried to accomplish."
"It was very nerve racking," Albright said. "It was interesting to see the votes come in and at first it was a little disconcerting, but then as the evening went on, it started turning. I'm very pleased."
She said now the work begins.
"I'm anxious to start doing a lot of the preliminary work in place to bring the citizens a new jail in Bourbon County," she said.
The project will replace the existing 27-bed Southeast facility, which was constructed in 1977.
The plan for the 21,000-square-foot facility is for a 67-bed facility with a bid alternate that would provide an additional 16 beds. The plan also allows for future expansion up to 150 or 160 beds.
The new jail will allow jail staff to work under conditions that are in compliance with codes and standards that have been enacted during the past 40 years. Those are the American Correctional Association, Prison-Rape Elimination Act of 2012, Americans with Disabilities Act and National Fire Protection Association.
With the sales tax increase, .04 cents would be raised for every $10 spent; 40 cents for every $100 spent and $4 for every $1,000 spent.
Revenue from the increased sales tax, which will go in effect Oct. 1, also will pay for renovating the existing space to be used by other county offices and for land acquisition for the new facility.
The county has not chosen a site for the new jail, but Martin has said before a site is chosen, he would hold public forums to get input on the location.
By state statute, county jails must be located within the county seat.
The county has contracted with Goldberg Group Architects PC of St. Joseph, Mo., to provide architectural services and Piper Jaffray of Leawood for financial services.
Commissioners will canvass the votes and consider provisional ballots during their meeting Monday.